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German engagement

The Sustainable Energy for Development Programme

In 2002 Germany presented its contribution toward energy system development in partner countries: the 'Sustainable Energy for Development Programme'.

Initially it was planned to make available within five years, from 2003 to 2007, one billion euros from the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Coope­ra­tion and Development (BMZ) – 500 million euros to promote renewable energies in partner countries, plus a further 500 million to help increase energy efficiency. In actual fact, Germany had already fulfilled these commitments by 2005, after only three years.

The programme focuses on the development of sustainable energy systems and the replacement of forms of energy that damage the climate and the environ­ment. Corresponding projects or programmes are proposed by partner countries, and agreed on between the German government and the governments of the partner countries in question. Through this special programme, Germany aims not only to improve cooperation with partner country governments in the energy sector. It also intends to explore new avenues for cooperation with the private sector.

The programme builds on ongoing energy sector projects in deve­lop­ing coun­tries. Between 2003 and 2008, a total of around EUR 3 bil­lion was made available for bilateral energy projects. EUR 1.6 billion of this amount was utilised for pro­jects to promote renewable energies, and EUR 1.4 billion for projects to increase energy efficiency. In 2009 planned annual new commitments for renewable energies and ener­gy efficiency amounted to over EUR 1 billion. Over the next five years at least EUR 2.5 billion will be pledged for renewable energies alone.